Call for morning after pill to be made available to medical card holders

The morning after pill should be available to women under the medical card scheme, pharmacists have claimed.

The morning after pill should be available to women under the medical card scheme, pharmacists have claimed.

A survey by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) found that 18 per cent of women with a medical card chose to get their emergency contraception from a pharmacy as opposed to getting it free on prescription from their GP.

IPU vice-president Kathy Maher said pharmacists already offer seasonal flu vaccination services without charge to medical card patients so a service for the morning after pill should be put in place.

It is important to stress that this medication is for emergencies only, Ms Maher said.

Pharmacists offer a thorough confidential consultation with the patient before the medication can be provided.

She added that women can get timely advice and treatment from community pharmacies since more and more are open throughout the weekend and late in the evening.

Results from the survey were announced today ahead of the IPU National Pharmacy Conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Ms Maher said it was important to urge women to look after their sexual health and use precautions to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

She insisted that anyone who is concerned about their sexual health should ask a pharmacist for advice in the strictest confidence.

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Call for morning after pill to be made available to medical card holders